Brian O'Driscoll reckons Garry Ringrose won’t change much about his tackle technique even if he faces a ban that will rule him out of the remainder of the Guinness Six Nations.
TheIreland centre will tomorrow morning learn his fate after getting sent off for a dangerous tackle in the win over Wales on Saturday.
The Leinster back was initially yellow-carded but the colour was upgraded to red following a bunker review of the tackle on Ben Thomas.
Ringrose has a clean record, which may go in his favour, but previous similar cases have resulted in six-week bans that are then mitigated down based on admitting guilt and attending 'tackle school’.
The Dubliner missed the last game of the Grand Slam in 2023 after suffering a head injury while making a tackle against Scotland.
Ireland are top of the table and face France in ten days’ time in Dublin in a likely championship decider.
"It’s probably just a red card," O’Driscoll, who won 143 international caps with Ireland and the Lions, said.
"I think the speed at which he comes in...it’s an out-of-control speed. It’s that might work against him.
"I haven’t scrutinised it the way [the committee] will have.
"He's a fraction off.
"Think about all the dozens of massive hits, the one he got wrong against Scotland over in Edinburgh when he injured himself, it hasn't stopped him from shooting and not respecting his body.
"A little bit of you, as an ex-player, you're wincing like everybody else, but also enjoying the heroics, his ability and willingness to put in those shots for the team.
"To have your first red, considering he has defended that way for a long time, as a 30-year-old is OK, you don't have to reinvent the wheel.
"Maybe for the next couple of weeks he comes back playing, you maybe hedge your bets a little bit more and build back that belief.
"The last thing you want to do is get sent off three weeks later. But I don't see it changing dramatically."
O'Driscoll, who retired in 2014, added: "In the modern game, everyone is going to get sent off. It was different in our time.
"I'd have been sent off a few times if I played now."
O’Driscoll was speaking at the launch of Guinness’ Never Settle campaign, for which Field of Vision will bring a revolutionary sensory experience to visually impaired fans at this year's Men’s and Women’s Six Nations Championships.
"For me when I close my eyes and I feel and I think about rugby, I think about that big shot," said the 46-year-old.
"A big hit, a big shot, a momentum swinger.
"I think that’s why we all enjoy Garry’s defence so much because it’s huge bravery and it takes a lot to put your body on the line that way.
"There’s different avenues to have.
"You can have a neutral or passive tackle but he’s choosing to make an aggressive, confrontational tackle and that takes heart and courage and that’s what rugby, in my eyes, is about.
"I love, more than anything, that big collision, right on the line, that’s what floats my boat."
If Ringrose picks up a ban, interim head coach Simon Easterby will likely revert to the tried and trusted midfield partnership of Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw.
Aki replaced Ringrose when the 20-minute red card elapsed and played a huge role in turning the match in Ireland’s favour.
"Every time he plays for Ireland, he goes well, every time," said O’Driscoll of the Connacht centre.
"It's so hard leaving one of them out because they all offer something different.
"I even think Robbie dealt with defending in the centre on his own unbelievably well for 20 minutes. It's such a hard thing.
"He's very good at reading short and out the back, very underrated in that department.
"OK, Wales did score a pick-and-jam and [Tom] Rogers scored but that's multiple phases and they caught them.
"I would say we're very, very lucky to have all three of them playing as well as they are.
"And it's unusual, someone is nearly always injured but then you have Jamie Osborne in the background who could come in at 12.
"It's a very nice position to be in and it's a real luxury.
"If Garry does pick up a ban of some sort, you're not losing a huge amount. Maybe a little bit in attack but you're gaining elsewhere with Robbie and Bundee playing together."
